What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Tall Tails
Our Tall Tails exhibition features the mounted tails of the C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion, this new exhibition brings visitors closer to two extraordinary aircraft and the stories they carry. It also highlights the importance of finding a permanent home for them, as the Museum continues to fundraise through the Home for Heroes project.
Tall Tails is on display in our Thérèse Angelo Wing.
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Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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Support Us
Home for Heroes
Join us in building a forever home for New Zealand’s C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion – icons of service.
For more than half a century, these legendary aircraft carried our nation’s courage across the world – in peace, crisis, and discovery. Now, they need a home worthy of their legacy, where their stories of service, innovation and humanity will continue to inspire.
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Birthday Parties
Mission: Best birthday ever
Zip up a flight suit, grab your dog tags, and dive into a fully hosted birthday “mission”. From air & sea adventures for preschoolers to rescue and cadet challenges for older children. Our Programmes team runs the activities, the children get awesome photo moments (and party bags), and you can add catering through our café.
Book a birthday party
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
FREE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS THIS WEEKEND! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead with large events planned so we’ve had to reshuffle our aircraft.
We’re open as usual from 9.30am until 4.30pm - but some of your favourites may be off display.
However, these, including the Spitfire, Kittyhawk, Vampire and Devon will be able to be seen on our Behind-the-Scenes tours – just in a different place.
So, to make sure no one is disappointed, we’re making our Behind-the-Scenes tours FREE (normally $5) over the weekend.
The tours take up to an hour and will take you out the back to our special wonderland – with a commentary from our experienced guides.
The Air Force Museum of New Zealand is run by a not-for-profit trust.
By holding events in our large spaces, we can subsidise the work we do to stay free and care for our collection.
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االل
WE NEED YOU! We are looking for a detail-oriented, self-motivated Volunteer Project Assistant to participate in an inventory assessment and documentation project for specific aircraft in our collection.
The project is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete.
What you’ll do:
• Research technical manuals and historical aircraft documentation.
• Assess installed aircraft inventory, cockpit instrumentation, and components.
• Identify, record, and log missing or uninstalled items into our electronic database.
• Be focused on the project deliverables with minimum supervision on a 1 day per week schedule.
• Work collegially alongside museum staff and volunteers.
What we’re looking for:
• Aviation familiarisation (ability to recognise parts and systems—no mechanical repair work required).
• Physical capability to safely access aircraft cockpits and interior spaces for inspection.
• Proven self-management skills to participate in a standalone project to completion.
• Reliable digital data entry skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Great interpersonal skills and a positive team attitude.
• Undertake a NZ Police check and satisfy the NZDF site entry requirements.
This is a volunteer role for one day a week. Work days are Monday – Thursday Unpaid, 12–18 Month Standalone Project.
To express an interest or for more information email: alan.boyd@airforcemuseum.co.nz
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If you can move the plane to Blenheim, your on! I live aircraft manuals lol
KIWI SHIPPING LANES UNDER ATTACK: On this day in 1940 the New Zealand Shipping Company freighter Turakina was attacked and sunk 500km off the Taranaki coast by the German raider Orion.
The Turakina was completely outgunned by the armed merchant ship in the attack on 20 August 1940 and 36 members of its crew were killed.
Another 21 crew members were rescued and taken prisoner.
After the attack the RNZAF sent up patrols to search for the Orion using TEA flying boats and a De Havilland Dragon aircraft from Ohakea, with no success.
Three Vincents were also sent up to RNZAF Station Waipapakauri to carry out patrols in search of the German raider, but the Orion had escaped.
The Orion returned in November and sank the Holmwood and Rangitane.
The Orion’s attacks showed New Zealand’s waters were vulnerable, and in the long-term led to the bolstering of resources for air cover.
📸Vickers Vincent NZ352 on patrol.
📸The Orion - Wikimedia Commons. ... See MoreSee Less
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The RNZAF would have had 24 brand new ASV radar-equipped Vickers Wellington bombers by then, if the NZ government had not "placed them at the disposal" of the RAF on the outbreak of war. Modern Lockheed Hudsons to fill the maritime reconnaissance role did not arrive until the end of 1941
Whats a TEA flying boat ?? TEAL?
The Tyranny of Distance offered no protection 85 years ago - nor does it now.
Raiders were literally Pirate Ships, disguised as Merchant Ships, able to change colours or superstructure to masquerade as different ships, they were heavily armed, with guns behind steel shutters, carried torpedo's and mines, some even had an Arado seaplane. There were about 5 or 6 which cruised around The Indian and Pacific Oceans in the early years of WW2. Their tactic would be to get close to a target, raise the German Flag, like a Pirate's Jolly Roger, and fire a warning shot, demanding no distress message is sent, and getting the other ship to heave to.
The reds got her eventually!
36 x🫡 🇳🇿
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